What echoes linger here? This is the Site of Harringay Arena. The Harringay Arena once stood proudly. It was a hub of sporting events and entertainment in North London.
Let’s step back to 1936. Brigadier-General Alfred Critchley built the Harringay Arena. He used his company the Greyhound Racing Association Trust Ltd. Dr. Oscar Faber designed the arena. Its octagonal shape echoed Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Dorman Long & Co built its vast steel roof. They were responsible for the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Harringay Arena rose in just eight months.
Imagine the roar of the crowd. The Harringay Arena hosted almost 10000 ice hockey fans. Boxing matches drew even more. A removable maple floor allowed diverse events. But early events faced a chill. Cold air rose from the ice below.
The Harringay Arena quickly became famous for ice hockey and boxing. Before World War II ice hockey peaked in popularity. Two local teams were born. They were the Harringay Racers and Harringay Greyhounds. In 1938 the first televised ice hockey game aired. The Harringay Racers played Streatham. But war disrupted the sport. Post-war audiences dwindled.
Boxing thrived at the Harringay Arena. Five world title fights took place here. This set a British record. Commercial needs led to diverse events. The 1948 Summer Olympics came to the Harringay Arena. Basketball and wrestling events thrilled audiences. From 1947 to 1949 it was the home of the All England Open Badminton Championships. The Horse of the Year Show found its first home here. Roller Speedway and wrestling excited fans. The European Netball Championships arrived in 1955.
Beyond sports the Harringay Arena hosted entertainment. Classical music and ballet found a home here. In the 1940s classical music events were groundbreaking. The London Music Festival drew huge crowds. Ten-year-old Pierino Gamba debuted to great acclaim. Manuel Rosenthal brought his Orchestre National de France. 13500 listeners filled the Harringay Arena.
A Guardian report praised the Harringay Arena. It noted the diverse crowd. It mentioned trains adding to the orchestration. Paul Robeson’s concerts sold out. The Philadelphia Orchestra made its UK debut here. Alicia Markova Anton Dolin and the Ballet Rambert performed here.
The Harringay Arena was famous for circuses too. Tom Arnold’s Harringay Circus ran for eleven seasons. Twenty baby elephants arrived from Ceylon for the first show. Billy Smart painted elephants in vibrant colors. Sabu of Thief of Baghdad fame appeared in the 1952 circus. Charles Shadwell led the circus band.
Other events included ice skating shows. Rose Marie on Ice starred Barbara Ann Scott. The first National Colliery Music Festival took place here. American evangelist Billy Graham held his first UK crusade at the Harringay Arena. The Ford Motor Company launched its 1957 car range here. The Starlight Dance concert featured top artists.
Despite diverse events the Harringay Arena faced challenges. Ice hockey’s decline and post-war conditions limited success. The final event occurred on October 28 1958. Dave Charnley and Carlos Ortiz headlined a boxing match. The Times marked the end of an era.
Home & Colonial Stores Ltd acquired the Harringay Arena. It became a food storage facility. Later it was demolished in 1978. A Sunday market operated on the site. Then the Arena Shopping Park emerged.
Today mid-market brands occupy the site. But the Harringay Arena’s legacy remains. It was a place of sporting glory artistic expression and community gathering. Though gone its echoes still resonate.